36 THE NAFCU JOURNAL NOVEMBER–DECEMBER 2022 EXECUTIVE SPOTLIGHT Q: What led you to the credit union sector, and to UVA Community Credit Union? A: I began my credit union career in 2005 when Bank of America purchased Fleet Financial and my family made the decision not to accept a relocation offer to Chicago from Boston. I accepted my first Chief Financial Officer role with Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union in Massachusetts. Nine years later, I accepted the CFO position at Patelco Credit Union in California. Not only was it a different part of the country, it was a much larger credit union with a different focus. Patelco grew extraordinarily quickly during my tenure and I learned and developed as a leader, particularly regarding strategic planning, balance sheet management, and how to have a laser focus on members’ financial health and well-being. I was drawn to the CEO opportunity at UVA Community Credit Union due in part by the location back on the East Coast, but more importantly by the potential of the credit union. Q: What’s your leadership style? How do you plan to lead an engaged team? A: My leadership style is inclusive, yet I empower ownership with corresponding accountability. There can only be one decision maker for every situation, and it cannot always be the CEO. I believe CEO decision making should be reserved for highly impactful or strategically important situations. While I am here for support and guidance, I expect my leaders to lead. I inherited an engaged team, however the organization’s focus is shifting and I need SUSAN GRUBER President and CEO, UVA Community Credit Union everyone to join me on a new path. First, I must listen and learn. I spent my first four months having in-depth meetings with branch and support teams to learn what the members are saying, what the team needs in order to be more efficient, and answer any questions. The Senior Team and I have identified “Quick Wins” which are fixes or adjustments that are relatively easy to implement. We are providing a feedback loop to the team to let them know that their ideas were heard and let them know what has been done in response to their feedback. Q: Why is community service and philanthropy important to you and UVA Community Credit Union? A: UVA Community Credit Union is deeply embedded into the communities we serve. We encourage our teammembers, at all levels, to be involved in a community organization that has meaning to them, whether it be a well-established non-profit or even coaching Little League. We provide the flexibility so that the team can not only give back to the community, but also feel gratified in doing so. Giving back to our members and communities is a tenant for all credit unions—or at least it should be. Q: How do you prioritize diversity, equity and inclusion, both within your credit union and in terms of the community you serve? A: I strongly believe that our team needs to be a reflection of the communities we serve and, to be honest, we have some work to do in achieving this goal. Nevertheless, we embrace the principles of DEI and the credo that “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (MLK, Jr.). We believe that DEI is an important component to any thriving organization or community. There is no tolerance here for bias, discrimination, or marginalization of diverse perspectives and opinions whether it is directed at a member or teammember. Q: How does UVA Community Credit Union prioritize financial literacy? A: While financial literacy is important and something we support for both our members and communities, it is simply not enough. Understanding how to manage your finances is not the same as embracing the right behaviors and having a healthy relationship with money. We believe in financial wellness which embodies literacy, behaviors and the emotional connection (positive and negative) to money—or lack thereof. We have all heard the disturbing statistic that nearly half of Americans can’t pay a $600 unexpected expense. This should be a wakeup call to community-based financial institutions to do more to support members on their journey to becoming financially resilient through education, products designed specifically to address this issue and most importantly to create a shame-free environment whereby members can discuss their struggles with our team. One of the ways we are reaching out to our community to achieve this is through a partnership with University of Virginia Athletics to bring a holistic approach to financial wellness of their student athletes, beginning with the football players and expanding to the Women’s basketball players.
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